Schools keep students indoors as Hamilton hit hard by wildfire smoke

Schools across the Hamilton region are keeping students indoors and cancelling outdoor programming amid air quality concerns Wednesday, as smoke makes its way into the province from forest fires in Quebec and northern Ontario. 

Parts of Hamilton reached a 10 on Environment Canada's Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) on Tuesday, indicating high risk. The rating was among some of the worst in the province. 

On Wednesday, which also happens to be National Clean Air Day in Canada, smoke covered the city and the air quality rating reached 10+, which is considered very high risk.

The Hamilton Wentworth District School Board said on Twitter its students will remain indoors for the day and the board continues to monitor the air quality. Track and field events have been postponed. 

Marnie Jadon, spokesperson for the Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board (HWCDSB), said students at its schools are also being kept indoors. 

She said when the air quality index becomes 7 or higher, the district cancels outdoor activities. HWCDSB is also monitoring the air quality to determine the return of outdoor activities. 

Conseil scolaire Viamonde, Hamilton's French school board, sent out a letter to families stating windows at the school will remain closed during the air quality warnings and all outdoor activities will take place indoors. 

Halton District School Board in Burlington cancelled all sports and outdoor activities Wednesday. 

Grand Erie District School Board in Brantford said outdoor activities will go ahead as planned, but students experiencing symptoms from the smoke may stay indoors if they choose to. 

The AQHI is calculated based on the relative risks of common air pollutants (such as ozone, particulate matter and nitrogen) known to harm human health. Symptoms can include irritation to the eyes, nose or throat, shortness of breath, wheezing, severe coughing, chest pain or other respiratory issues.

A higher AQHI number means more potential for health risk and a need to take precautions, such as rescheduling or reducing outdoor activities, according to Environment Canada. That's especially important for at-risk populations, including people with lung-based illnesses, people who are pregnant and the elderly.

Environment Canada anticipates the AQHI will rise to a Level 9 for Thursday afternoon and sit around a Level 8 into the evening. Both levels are also considered high risk. 

The agency recommends using an N95 outdoors if possible and is asking the public to stop all outdoor activity if you're experiencing symptoms. 

Hamilton's geography may increase risk levels

Trudy Kidd, an operational meterologist with Environment Canada, told CBC Hamilton the city's escarpment may cause increased levels of particulate matter pollutants from the smoke to gather in the lower city. 

"Hamilton does have some local effects. It's got the escarpment, and that can allow pollutants to accumulate. It gets kind of stuck in that escarpment area."  

Kidd said Tuesday the Hamilton Mountain registered a particulate matter concentration of 180, while Toronto reached 110.

She said the average particulate matter for Hamilton sits around 20 or under. 

A factor could be "Hamilton Mountain being higher up, being that much closer to the upper air where the smoke is being carried." 

Fire ban in place in Hamilton, Burlington

In other moves due to the air quality issues, the Hamilton Public Library Bookmobile has cancelled its route for Wednesday and Thursday. 

Hamilton has banned all open air burning in the city, due to dry weather and the air quality warnings. The ban includes burning wood and brush, campfires and all outdoor wood burning appliances. 

The city says the Hamilton Fire Department is monitoring the situation and will issue a media release when the ban is over. 

Niagara Falls is pausing their nightly fireworks series while the wildfires are ongoing.

In a media release, Niagara Falls Tourism president Janice Thomson said the organization will monitor the air quality conditions daily and release updates around noon on the fireworks. 

Burlington has issued a fire ban, with dry weather conditions, low rainfall and the air quality warnings as reasons for the ban. 

"This burn ban applies to the entire city, including properties with approved burn permits. The ban will remain in effect until further notice," Colin Lahey, chief fire prevention officer, said in a news release.